Scottish Executive

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 26 April 2004.

Ross Finnie: Allan Wilson and Ben Bradshaw attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 26 April 2004.

  On agriculture, after several hours of talks, the Irish Presidency concluded that it was not possible to identify a compromise proposal on the welfare of animals during transport which would command the support of a qualified majority of member states, and so the meeting concluded without agreement on that dossier. There are no plans to resume discussion of it. This outcome was disappointing for the UK Government, which had supported the Presidency’s efforts to find a compromise which represented a genuine improvement in animal welfare over the current rules.

  On the approvals process for genetically modified organisms, there was no qualified majority of member states, either in favour of or against, the approval of sweetcorn from Bt11 maize for consumption in the EU. Under the rules of procedure for such approvals, the Commission is now able to take a decision under its own responsibility from 1 May.

  Denmark reported on measures it has taken in response to dioxin levels in salmon fished in the Baltic Sea. Slovakia and Poland raised concerns about the rules on the carry-over of agricultural stocks on enlargement, which are designed to prevent speculation but which they consider to be over-bureaucratic. In response to a request from Denmark and Austria, the Commission indicated that it would bring forward a proposal within the next few weeks on thresholds for the adventitious presence of genetically modified material in seeds.

  No items of fisheries business were discussed.

Disclosure Scotland

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a disclosure from Disclosure Scotland relating to an individual remains valid when that individual changes employer.

Cathy Jamieson: The Disclosures issued by Disclosure Scotland record the criminal record status of the applicant at the point in time the disclosure was produced. Standard and Enhanced Disclosures relate to specific types of post, namely those posts excluded by law from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Additionally, Enhanced Disclosures relate to posts which involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. The question of the validity of disclosures in relation to changes in employer has to be seen in this context.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the report of the Religious Observance Review Group.

Peter Peacock: The report is published on 14 May 2004 and distributed to a wide range of interested groups and individuals as well as to every headteacher in Scotland. Copies are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32612) I am pleased with their broad conclusion which offers schools more flexibility, and I would encourage schools to consider how they can respond positively, adopting the approaches within the report. I believe these approaches can be achieved successfully within a broadly Christian community. I intend to commission Learning and Teaching Scotland to develop support materials with schools and to do this in discussion with key organisations. A revised circular will be developed and issued to schools in due course.

Enterprise

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funds has been allocated to researching a new Scottish brand and/or logo for the purpose of promoting Scotland overseas; how much each associated contract has cost, and to whom they were awarded.

Mr Andy Kerr: The purpose of the research activity commissioned by the Executive is set out in my answer to S2W-5795 on 9 February 2004. Around £310,000 has so far been committed to this research. This work has been carried out by four agencies: Union Advertising, Barkers Advertising, TNS System 3 and Corporate Edge. Charges made by individual companies are not published by the Executive as they may be commercially sensitive.

External Relations

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the members of the consular corps and overseas representatives that it recognises for the purposes of building overseas links.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following 49 countries have consular representations in Scotland.

  

 Australia


 Austria


 Bangladesh


 Belgium


 Brazil


 Bulgaria


 Chile


 China


 Cyprus


 Czech Republic


 Denmark


 Estonia


 Finland


 France


 Gambia


 Germany


 Greece


 Hungary


 Iceland


 India


 Ireland


 Italy


 Ivory Coast


 Japan


 Jordan


 Kyrgyzstan


 Libya


 Lithuania


 Luxembourg


 Malta


 Malawi


 Mexico


 Monaco


 Mongolia


 Netherlands


 Norway


 Pakistan


 Philippines


 Poland


 Russian Federation


 Spain


 Rwanda


 Sweden


 Switzerland


 Thailand


 Tunisia


 Turkey


 Ukraine


 United States of America



  The Executive also works with a number of other overseas representatives, including London Embassies and High Commissions.

External Relations

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requests it received seeking its support for events outwith Scotland requesting Scottish participation in each year from 1999 to 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has received a large number of requests of support for events outwith Scotland requesting Scottish participation since 1999. Each request is considered on its merits according to our strategic objectives for external relations.

Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the benchmark for non-completion of courses is for each university in each year, and has been for which figures are available, and what it will do to reduce non-completion rates.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive does not set benchmarks for non-completion either for the sector as a whole or for individual institutions. However, the performance indicators published annually by the funding councils include calculations of benchmark figures for individual institutions on a range of measures, including for new entrants whose projected outcome at the end of their first year was neither an award nor a transfer to another higher education institute (HEI).

  The table shows the benchmark percentage per institution. The benchmark represents only the expected performance of each institution based on average actual performance across the sector, after taking account of some of the factors which contribute to the differences between institutions such as subjects of study available and the age and previous qualifications of entrants. The performance indicators, and their associated benchmarks, are not targets. They simply contribute to the range of information which is gathered on our HEIs and their students.

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) introduced its Widening Access Premium in 2001-02. The premium is to support institutions in improving the retention and progression of students from under-represented areas. In 2004-05, SHEFC will allocate over £5 million through the Widening Access Premium.

  We are at present working with the representative bodies in the sector and the funding council to set new sector-wide targets for improvement in access from the most economically disadvantaged groups and for the retention of students of all backgrounds, and will monitor performance against these.

  We are also supporting initiatives which will help those entering higher education to choose the most relevant course for them, and which will improve the quality of the student experience, both of which should have a positive impact on retention. To this end, we will improve the quality and consistency of information for all learners to ensure that they have a seamless service incorporating the provision of information and guidance. We are encouraging the development of more creative and flexible provision which recognises and responds to diverse needs. We are also supporting the new quality enhancement arrangements, under which HEIs will be expected to demonstrate that they have clear, well-managed strategies for promoting constant quality improvement across all aspects of learning and teaching. The Executive particularly welcomes the close involvement of students’ representatives in designing and implementing this new system, and the recognition in the new arrangements of the importance of the overall quality of the student experience.

  

 Institution
 Bench-Mark, 
  Neither Award Nor Transfer


 2000-01 
  (%)
 1999-2000 
  (%)
 1998-99 
  (%)


 University of Aberdeen
 16
 16
 15


 University of Abertay Dundee
 19
 17
 17


 University of Dundee
 15
 14
 14


 University of Edinburgh
 8
 8
 9


 Edinburgh College of Art
 14
 14
 17


 University of Glasgow
 11
 13
 15


 Glasgow Caledonian University
 16
 17
 16


 Glasgow School of Art 
 13
 16
 18


 Heriot-Watt University
 14
 14
 15


 Napier University 
 18
 18
 19


 University of Paisley
 16
 17
 16


 Queen Margaret University 
  College
 16
 15
 15


 Robert Gordon University
 16
 16
 16


 Royal Scottish Academy of 
  Music and Drama
 17
 17
 15


 University of St Andrews
 9
 9
 10


 University of Stirling
 16
 16
 15


 University of Strathclyde
 12
 12
 13



  Source: HEFCE

Income

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioner households live on an annual income of (a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,001 to £15,000 and (c) 15,001 to £20,000 expressed also as a percentage of the total number of such households.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table presents the results from the 2002-03 Family Resources Survey on the proportion and number of pensioner households with annual net income in each income band.

  Table: Annual Net Household Income1 for All Pensioner Households 2002-03, Column Percentages, Pensioner Households

  

  
 Pensioner 
  Households
(Percentage)
 Pensioner 
  Households
(Numbers)


 Less than £10,000
 44
 280,000


 £10,001 to £15,000
 28
 180,000


 £15,001 to £20,000
 14
 90,000


 Over £20,000
 14
 90,000


 Total
 100
 640,000



  Source: Family Resources Survey

  Note:

  1. Includes wages and salaries, self employment income, pensions income, all state benefits, payable tax credits, and investment income, net of income tax, National Insurance, council tax, contributions to occupational pensions and maintenance payments.

Licensing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the Nicholson Committee’s Review of Liquor Licensing Law in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: I am delighted to announce today the publication of the Executive’s response to the Nicholson Report and to the Report by the Working Group on Off Sales in the Community.

  "The Licensing (Scotland) Bill: A consultation on liquor licensing" sets out our proposals for a national framework within which local licensing boards will operate guided by the core licensing principles.

  These proposals are now open for consultation until the end of August. The publication can be viewed on the Scottish Executive website and copies are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32688).

Ministerial Correspondence

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy First Minister will reply to my letter of 26 February 2004 in connection with MW Stephens Ltd and Art Enterprises Ltd.

Mr Jim Wallace: I replied to your letter on 13 May 2004 and regret the delay in responding.

Official Receptions

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6948 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 April 2004, whether it will publish a list of those invited to these functions or receptions organised by it and hosted by Scottish ministers since May 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not publish lists of guests who have attended official functions.

Prison Service

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of six months or less for drug-related offences.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of (a) more than six months and (b) 12 months or under for drug-related offences.

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of (a) more than 12 months and (b) 24 months or under for drug-related offences.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information we have on the sentence length of sentenced prisoners in custody on 30 June 2003, where the main crime was a drug offence is provided in the following table:

  Sentence Length of Sentenced Prisoners in Custody on 30 June 2003, where the Main Crime was a Drug Offence

  

 Sentence Length
 Number
 Percentage


 Up to and including 6 months
 28
 3%


 Over 6 months and up to and 
  including 12 months 
 53
 6%


 Over 1 year and up to and including 
  2 years
 76
 9%


 All other sentences
 693
 82%


 Total
 850
 100%

Prison Service

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of male prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offences is aged (a) less than 18 and (b) 18 to 20 years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information we have on the age and sex of sentenced prisoners in custody on 30 June 2003, where the main crime was a drug offence is provided in the following table:

  Age and Sex of Sentenced Prisoners in Custody on 30 June 2003, where the main Crime was a Drug Offence

  

 Age
 Male
 Female


 Number
 Percentage
 Number
 Percentage


 Under 18
 3
 0%
 0
 0%


 18 to 20
 16
 2%
 2
 3%


 21 and over
 779
 98%
 61
 97%


 All
 798
 100%
 63
 100%

Prison Service

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of female prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offences is aged (a) less than 18 and (b) 18 to 20 years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7940 on 17 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Public Private Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operational PPP and PFI projects there are and what the accounting treatment is for each project.

Mr Andy Kerr: A list of all Scottish PPP projects can be found on the Scottish Executive Financial Partnerships Unit’s website at www.scotland.gov.uk/ppp. All projects listed are accounted for as off balance sheet, except for New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and East Ayrshire Community Hospital.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Funds

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will remain in the Scottish Transport Group pension funds once all payments, including the sum owed to HM Treasury, have been made.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’ fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba dè an t-suim airgid a bhios air fàgail ann am maoin-peinnsein Buidheann Còmhdhail na h-Alba as dèidh do gach uile pàigheadh, a ghabhail a-steach na suime a dh’ fheumadh a thoirt do Roinn Ionmhais na Banrigh, a bhith air a phàigheadh.

Nicol Stephen: None. The Scottish Transport Group pension schemes were wound up in May 2002 and all the money in them was returned to the employer and then to the Executive. £50 million of this was returned to the Treasury via a reduction in the Executive’s departmental expenditure limit. For details of the £126 million programme of ex-gratia payments to former members that was set up following the winding up, I would refer you to my answer to S2W-6363 on 9 March 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The minister has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Cha bhi suim sam bith. Chaidh sgeamaichean peinnsein Buidheann Còmhdhail na h-Alba an dùnadh suas anns a’ Chèitean 2002 agus chaidh an t-airgead a thilleadh air ais chun neach-fastaidh ‘s an uair sin gu Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Chaidh £50m den t-suim seo a chuir air ais chun Roinn Ionmhais tro lùghdachadh ann an ìre caithteachais roinnean an Riaghaltais. Airson mion-fhiosrachadh mun phrògram £126m de phàighidhean ex-gratia chun fheadhainn a chleachd a bhith nam buill, a chuireadh air chois an dèidh don sgeama a bhith air a dùnadh suas, dh’iarrainn oirbh sùil a thoirt air an fhreagairt a thug mi do S2W-6363. Tha freagairtean nan ceistean air fad rim faotainn air làrach-lìn na Pàrlamaid agus gheibhear cothrom an sgrùdadh air:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Whisky Industry

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to HM Treasury prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget 2004 announcement with regard to whisky strip stamps, detailing each such representation.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including whisky strip stamps. Representations both written and oral questions have been made on a number of occasions. Representations to Whitehall departments by Scottish Ministers are made in confidence, as are any representations made by the UK Government to the Scottish Executive.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Events

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the SPCB what plans it has to acknowledge and celebrate the centenary of Norway’s independence in 2005.

Andrew Welsh (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The SPCB has no plans to commemorate the Centenary of Norway’s independence on 17 May 2005.

  It is open to members to propose a motion to mark the Centenary if they choose to do so.